news The West Fargo School Board unanimously decided Monday night to accept the bid offered by Industrial Builders Inc. of West Fargo for the rehabilitation of the L.E. Berger Track, which will make it function more as a walking track instead of one designed for competition. Industrial Builders offered to...
Fargo, 58102

Fargo North Dakota 101 5th Street North 58102

2013-02-13 00:04:00

The West Fargo School Board unanimously decided Monday night to accept the bid offered by Industrial Builders Inc. of West Fargo for the rehabilitation of the L.E. Berger Track, which will make it function more as a walking track instead of one designed for competition.

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Industrial Builders offered to do the necessary construction to the track for $104,600, along with an additional $5,000 to remove asphalt around the end zones. This total is about $14,000 more than the district had estimated, but was the lowest of the five bids considered.

There will also most likely be additional costs per unit to patch asphalt under the existing track as well as sealing cracks in the asphalt where it needs it.

“This isn’t a permanent solution â€’ it never is with outdoor amenities â€’ but we should be good for at least 10 years without any major maintenance,” business manager Mark Lemer said.

With competitive tracks at the West Fargo High School and the soon-to-be Sheyenne High School, the district saw the rehabilitation of the track a means to make it of greater use not only to Berger students, but West Fargo residents as a whole.

“We look at this more as a community amenity than something that we are looking to establish as a new standard for our elementary schools.”

Construction will begin as soon as conditions permit.

The board also unanimously elected to change the requirement of the 9th Grade World Geography class from one credit to a half credit, which is the requirement set by the state.

According to assistant superintendent Louise Dardis, a full credit geography class limits the amount of electives that a student can choose from.

The number of geography classes required prior to high school have increased based on the North Dakota Social Studies Content Standards, decreasing the necessity for a full-credit freshman class.

Geography was increased to one credit in 2007, when the school switched to block classes. An additional social studies teachers was hired at that time. Due to the increase in students since that time, it is very unlikely that an instructor would be let go.